Rio Bravo

On one side is an army of gunmen dead-set on springing a murderous cohort from jail. On the other is Sheriff John T. Chance and his two deputies: one a recovering drunkard, the other a crippled codger. Also in their ragtag ranks are an unseasoned, trigger-happy youth and a woman with a past-- and her eye on Chance.

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Howard Hawks and John Wayne made an excellent picture in "Rio Bravo". Though I have now seen it at least 3 times, it still takes me back to the wild west. What a supporting cast with Dean Martin, who didn't do all that many movie roles. Walter Brennan was wonderful in all his films, but especially in "Rio Bravo". Claude Akin looked and acted like the meanest cowboy ever to take the screen. Even Ricky Nelson, yes even he comes through with an excellent performance. We all know Ricky was no feature film star either. Give the credit to director Howard Hawks for bringing out the best of the entire cast. "Rio Bravo" gave John Wayne a great script and Wayne showed he was equal to the task. I put "Rio Bravo" as one of my favorite all time classic western movies.

This Howard Hawks production, as a response to screenwriter Carl Foreman's "High Noon" with Gary Cooper, (labeled as an "un-American" film by Wayne), is the epitome of The Duke's films. The definitive John Wayne Western, for me. 'Sheriff John T. Chance' is in full swagger... with a tremendous supporting cast. The late, great crooner Dino, as his suffering, sober sidekick 'Dude' (or 'Borachón'/Drunk); baby-faced (and kinda dorky) 18 year old (teenage heartthrob at the time) Ricky Nelson as young gun 'Colorado'; 'John T's' seductive, chatterbox love interest Angie Dickinson as 'Feathers' (who was almost half Wayne's age); Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez as 'Carlos', the hilarious Mexican innkeeper with high blood pressure... Ah, but then there's 'Stumpy'. Where would this film be without cackling, hooting, shotgun shooting Stumpy? Walter Brennan was a gem, and he cracks me up every time I watch this. I absolutely treasure this '59 classic. FIVE STARS.

Well, nothing brings out Snark nor hyperbolic Praise like a controversial film. Considering this film came out over a half century ago it stands up pretty well. Hawks used versions of the Wayne/Angie dialogue in other films, especially To Have and Have Not. IMO, the bar scene with Dean Martin and Wayne, looking for the bleeding killer is tense and wonderful. So many things going on: is dino sober enough; will wayne let him play it out; will he be "good" enough; and how will they deal with the rest of the killers?. Initially i thought the bartender was Ben Johnson.

Aka_Aka_Aka
Mar 17, 2015

I don't get it! I really-really don't.... This film has got to be one of the most tired and lethargic big-budget Westerns ever produced this side of the goddamn Rio Grande. I ain't kiddin'!

Like, how could this film ever get away with being so over-rated for all of these years? Everything about Rio Bravo was tired-tired-tired, including the 52 year-old John Wayne, who looked like he was about ready to nod off at any minute in this one.

At 140 l-o-n-g minutes, I must say that Rio Bravo definitely pushed the limits when testing one's overall patience and tolerance. I believe that at least 30 minutes could've easily been cut from Rio Bravo's running time and no one would've noticed the diff, one way, or the other.

The unusual thing about Rio Bravo was that (since 95% of its action took place indoors) it lacked an authentic, Western-type, outdoor adventure to hold the viewer's interest. This struck me as very odd and this was the main factor that contributed to Rio Bravo's tired and somewhat claustrophobic atmosphere.

Naturally with Rio Bravo being the tired Western production that it was, it could only be expected to feature a tired romance, as well. Right?

This tediously tiresome love affair took place between two people who were, quite obviously, thirty years apart in age. And because there was no on-screen chemistry, whatsoever, happening between these two actors (Wayne & Dickinson), the whole affair was just plain tired to the 10th power, going, pretty much, nowhere, fast.

John Wayne was a special type of western hero. Director Howard Hawks proves it with the movie "Rio Bravo". In this 1959 classic western, he plays Sheriff John T. Chance. The cast is full of great character actor performances by Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson, Ward Bond, Claude Akin, and my all time favorite Walter Brennan. They all work together to keep a murderous member of a gang in jail. His family will stop at nothing to get him out. The odds are against you John Wayne. You might as well give up now. Not our John Wayne. He stands tall and ready for all who want to cross his path. Justice will be carried out. I admire John Wayne as an actor and for the type of movies he would choose to star in. He also could pick the best directors. John Ford and Howard Hawks are a good team to play for.
P.S. KCLS has 3 copies of "Rio Bravo" and none are checked out at this moment. It is a good time to see a classic John Wayne western! Please let me know your reaction right here on the KCLS web site.

Considering the so-called "starpower" that was jam-packed into Rio Bravo, you'd honestly think that this film would've crackled and sparkled with pure "Western-style" vitality and vibrance. But, no, sadly enough, Rio Bravo was so tired and slow-paced that, at times, it got mighty close to falling flat on its face..... Rio Bravo's highlight was a duet, of sorts, sung between pop idol Ricky Nelson and crooner Dean Martin.

Quotes

Dude: "I'm through. I quit, John. I quit." John T. Chance: "Alright, quit. Nobody's trying to stop ya. You wanna quit, quit! Go on back to the bottle, get drunk. One thing, though. Somebody throws a dollar in a spittoon, don't expect me to do somethin' about it. Just get down on your knees and go after it." (Dude angrily backhands Chance) Dude: "I'm... sorry." John T. Chance: "Sorry don't get it done, Dude. That's the second time you hit me. Don't ever do it again."

Stumpy (told to put the whiskey away): "Bring it out. Put it back. Nobody ever asked me if I need a drink! I ain't gonna wait for 'em to ask me, cuz I do. You two's enough to drive a man to it!" (swigs the bottle)

Dude: "I let 'em get me. I let 'em walk right up and stick my head in a water trough. And it was easy for 'em. I'm good when I'm sober, boy. Real good. I shoulda known better. Man not have sense enough to know when he's no good no more." John T. Chance: "Where ya goin'?" Dude: "Get your hands off me!" John T. Chance: "I said where ya goin'!" Dude: "You got no use for a man you can't depend on! One bad night and I'm done for. The old man takes a pot shot at me and I'm finished. I try, and I tried hard. Where'd it get me? Look at me. (shows his shaking hands) I got 'em so bad, I... What can a man do with hands like that?"

John T. Chance: "Stumpy... we're gonna take a turn around the town. ...You'll be alright?" Stumpy: "Of course, I'll be alright!" John T. Chance: "Well, then get in there where you belong!" Stumpy: "I'm goin'! I'm goin'! But you remember one thing! When you come back, you holler before you open that door! I'm liable to blast ya just for the heck of it!"

Stumpy: "Hey Chance, if'n you go by the hotel, pick up some coffee and sugar, would ya?" John T. Chance: "Joe complaining?" Stumpy: "Him?!? He don't get no sugar. His coffee's just water poured over the old grounds. I'll learn him to talk out of turn!"